Roll clamp

ABSTRACT

A roll clamp comprising a pair of concavely curved pads for clamping onto opposite sides of a roll. A pair of opposed arm structures extending rearwardly from the pads toward a frame support the pads in spaced opposed and facing relationship. The arm structures are movable toward and away from each other on the frame, whereby the pads may be brought against opposite sides of a roll. At least one arm structure includes an arm base which is mounted on the frame, a forward arm section, and means pivotally mounting the forward arm section on the arm base enabling it to swing in each of opposite directions until reaching defined limit positions. The pivot means is located toward said frame from said pads, and from the load center of any roll clamped by the pads. A spring biases the forward arm section to place it in an intermediate at rest position between these two limit positions.

United States Patent Farmer [54] ROLL CLAMP (72] Inventor: Stanley E.Farmer, Gresham, Oreg.

[73] Assignee: Cascade Corporation, Portland,

Oreg.

[22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1970 21 Appl. 140.; 67,235

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 814,9l9,April 10,

i969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. ..294l88, 2l4/6'53, 294/106 [5 l] Int. Cl. .366! 9/18 [58]Field of Search....294/67 BB, 67 BC, 86, 88, 92,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,127,209 3ll964 Faust etal. ..294I88 3,180,672 4Il965 Bjorklund et al. ...........294/883,198,568 8/1965 Mindrum ..294/88 [15] 3,690,714 1 Sept. 12, 1972Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. CherryAttorney-Kolisch & Hartwell [57} ABSTRACT A roll clamp comprising a pairof concavely curved pads for clamping onto opposite sides of a roll. Apair of opposed arm structures extending rearwardly from the pads towarda frame support the pads in spaced opposed and facing relationship. Thearm structures are movable toward and away from each other on the frame,whereby the pads may be brought against opposite sides of a roll. Atleast one arm structure ineludes an arm base which is mounted on theframe, a forward arm section, and means pivotallymounting the forwardarm section on the arm base enabling it to swing in each of oppositedirections until reaching defined limit positions. The pivot means islocated toward said frame from said pads, and from the load center ofany roll clamped by the pads. A spring biases the forward arm section toplace it in an intermediate at rest position between these two limitpositions.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 12, 1972 Sfanleg EFormer BYINVENTOR Zv 444137644 ROLL CLAMP This application is a continuation ofapplicant's prior copending application Ser. No. 8 14,919, filed Apr.10, 1969 now abandoned.

This invention relates to a roll clamp, such as might be used with alift truck or other load-handling agency.

In handling rolls, such as heavy paper rolls, it is conventional to usea roll clamp having a pair of opposed, relatively movable arms with padsthereon which may be clamped against opposite sides of the load and thenmaneuvered as required to move the load. The roll clamp may be mountedon a vehicle such as a lift truck, with the clamping arms projectingforwardly from the truck. In using the truck, the operator must move thearms away from each other a sufficient distance to enable a roll to fitbetween the pads on the arms and then drive the vehicle forwardly toplace the pads on either side of a roll. The clamping arms and pads arethen moved toward each other to grasp the roll.

The spacing of the arms, and positioning of the pads to obtain properstraddling relationship are generally matters of approximation for thedriver, and the accuracy of such are dependent on the driver's skill. Ifthe driver does not judge the arm and pad spacing and positioning withrespect to the roll correctly, the forward ends of the arms and padsmight scrape the roll being picked up, or adjacent rolls, with resultantroll damage.

This invention is bottomed on the concept of permitting limited swingingin the forward end of a clamping arm on which a pad is mounted, againstthe biasing of a biasing means, whereby an operator is not required toexactly laterally space and relatively position the arms and pads withrespect to a roll prior to picking it up. Obviously, this results inreduced roll damage, and is a factor in promoting faster roll handling.

Thus, a general object of the invention is to provide, in a roll clamp anovel clamping arm supporting a rollengaging pad, which arm features aswingable forward section.

Another object is to provide such a roll clamp where the forward sectionof the clamping arm is permitted to swing outwardly away from an opposedclamping arm toward a defined limit position, against the urging ofbiasing means which tends to maintain the section in an at rest positionwhere the section is disposed inwardly of the position it has onreaching such limit position.

Yet another object is to provide such a roll clamp where the forwardsection of the clamping arm is permitted to swing inwardly toward anopposed clamping arm toward a defined limit position, against the urgingof the biasing means which tends to maintain the section in its at restposition.

More specifically, an object is to provide, in a roll clamp, anadjustable clamping arm which includes an arm base that has a fixedposition relative to a frame in the clamp with the arm occupying anygiven adjusted position, and a forward arm section which is pivotallymounted on the arm base with its forward end permitted swinging movementbetween a pair of limit positions. Means defining the limit positions isinterposed between the arm base and forward arm section, in a regiondisposed rearwardly of the pivot axis for the forward arm section. Withthe limit means positioned rearwardly of the pivot axis a well-balancedand easily handled arm is provided.

With the preferred embodiment of the invention, both of a pair ofopposed clamping arms have pivotally mounted and biased forward armsections, as described.

Another factor to consider is that at times it is desirable to use thearms of the roll clamp backhandedly, i.e., as an agency for moving aroll by moving the outer, or back side of an arm outwardly against theroll.

Thus, a further object of the invention is to provide such a roll clampwhere the forward section of the clamping arm is permitted only limitedswinging movement inwardly toward an opposed clamping arm to enable itto be used backhandedly to move rolls.

These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparentas the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a clamping arm for a roll clamp constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the arm;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken generallyalong the line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view, on a somewhat smaller scale, i1- lustrating aroll clamp as contemplated in an attachment for a lift truck.

Referring now to the drawings, and first more spec ifically to FIG. 4,at 10 is indicated generally a roll clamp in the form of a lift truckattachment, which includes a frame 12 and a pair of opposed clampingarms, or arm structures, 18, 20. The roll clamp is shown mounted on thecarriage 22 of a lift truck, with the clamping arms projecting forwardlyfrom the lift truck which conventionally has such carriage carried in aforwardly disposed position as part of a mast assembly.

Arms 18, 20 are each mounted on the frame for movement in a lineal pathtoward and away from the opposite arrn. Such movement of an arm isproduced by actuation of a power-operated means, such as a hydraulicmotor or ram (not visible in the drawings). The clamping arms areadapted to be positioned with one on either side of a load, such as oneof the paper roll illustrated at 24, 26. With the arms straddling aload, and when they are subsequently moved toward each other, they clamponto substantially diametrically opposite sides of the roll and onopposite sides of the load center of the roll. Once a roll has beenclamped between the arms it may be maneuvered, as by lifting it orrotating it by operation of the lift truck attachment.

The arms shown are similar, and thus only one will be described indetail. Referring to arm 18 in FIG. 4, it will be seen that it includesan arm base 30 which is mounted on and projects forwardly from theframe, a forward arm section 32 which is mounted on and projectsforwardly from the arm base, and a load-engaging pad 34 mounted on theforward extremity of the arm section. Arm base 30 slides along frame 12,during adjusting of the position of the arm on frame 12. With arm 18occupying any given adjusted position on the frame, the arm base isfixed in this position.

Arm structure 18 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. 0nreferring to these figures, it will be seen that art". base 30 comprisesan elongated base plate 38 extending along the rear extremity of thearm, to which are secured two pairs of cantilever bars 40 extendingnormal to the base plate. Bars 40 project forwardly from base plate 38.One pair of the bars is adjacent the upper end of base plate 38 in FIG.1 and another pair is adjacent the lower end. A pair of elongatedcylindrical bearing 44 are secured to the forward ends of bars 40, oneto each pair. As is best seen in FIG. 1, the bearings are mounted withtheir axes aligned, and paralleling the base plate 38. A cover plate 46is secured to the inner edges of bars 40, this cover plate facinginwardly on the attachment and toward the opposing arm.

Forward arm section 32 includes a pair of elongated, substantiallyparallel exterior bracing members 50, forming the top and bottom of thearm, which are positioned outwardly from opposite ends of bearings 44.Rear extremities of the bracing members overlap arm base 30. A pair ofelongated, spaced-apart interior bracing members 52 parallel exteriorbracing members 50, and are positioned inwardly of the inner ends ofbearings 44. A plate 56 secured to the outer edges of bracing members50, 52, forms the outer side of the forward arm section. A rectangularcover plate 58 is secured to the inner edges of bracing members 50, 52,such being located forwardly in the arm section from bearings 44.

Forward arm section 32 is pivotally mounted on the arm base, in a regiontoward the frame from pad 34 and from the load center of any rollclamped by the pads, by a pair of elongated journals 62 having endsprojecting through accommodating bores in bracing members 50. Thejournals are rotatably received within cylindrical bearings 44. Each ofthe journals has a cap 62a joined to it, which is secured by a fastener64 to a bracing member 50. Journals 62 and bearings 44 provide a pivotaxis which the forward arm section may swing about, with such movementbeing either in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin FIG. 2. Clockwise movement of the forward arm section moves itsforward extremity toward the opposed arm in the roll clamp, andcounterclockwise swinging moves the forward extremity of the arm sectionaway from the opposed arm.

Swinging movement of forward arm section 32 in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2, is limited by the rear margin, orexpanse, of plate 56, which forms the outer side of the arm, coming intocontact with the outer face of a bearing pad 68 secured to cantileverbars 40 of the arm base. Swinging of the forward arm section in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, is limited by a stop member'70 coming into contact with the inner face of this bearing pad. Thestop member is secured in place on the forward arm section, as bywelding it to the edges of bracing members 52. The outer face of pad 68and the rear margin of plate 56 thus constitute a limit means limitingoutward swinging movement of the forward extremity of arm section 32,and the stop member and the inner face of the bearing pad constituteanother limit means limiting inward swinging movement of the forwardextremity of arm section 32.

Biasing means, in the form of a torsion bar 74 (reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 3) biases the arm section to a position intermediate thelimit positions just described, which position constitutes an at restposition for the forward arm section. The torsion bar is substantiallyaligned with the pivot axis provided by 5 joined to cover plate 46 ofthe arm base. A turned over end 74b at the opposite end of the torsionbar is fitted into a notch 81 in a pad 82 which is secured, as bywelding, to one of the bracing members 52 of the forward arm section.

As is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, load-engaging pas 34 has an elongated,arcuate configuration, with its inner, or load-engaging, surface beingconcave. The pad is mounted on the forward extremity of forward armsection 32 through a pivotal connection 86 which provides a pivot axisextending substantially parallel to the pivot axis for the forward armsection. A spring 90, illustrated in dashed outline in FIG. 1, isinterposed between the pad and the arm section to resist movement of thepad from its at rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. As is seen inFIG. 4 the pad is supported on the arm structure in spaced opposedrelation to the pad on the other arm structure, with their concavesurfaces facing each other.

Pivotally connected to the rear margin of pad 34 are a pair ofspaced-apart, T-shaped limit members 92, which project through cutoutsin cover plate 58 on the forward arm section. The cutouts are narrowerthan the length of the cross bar 920 at the head of each T- shapedmember. The cross bar for each limit member is movable loosely withinthe space between cover plate 58 and plate 56 on the forward armsection. Swinging of pad 34 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2is limited by the distance the rear margin of pad 34 may move before itcontacts plate 56 on the arm section. On swinging pad 34 in acounterclockwise direction, limit members 92 move to the left in FIGS. 1and 2, until their cross bars 920 are stopped by the convergence ofcover plate 58 and plate 56, to define another limit position for thepad.

In operation, and referring specifically to FIG. 4, an operator movesthe vehicle on which the roll clamp is mounted to a position adjacentthe roll to be picked up, such as that shown at 24. The clamping armsand pads thereon are positioned to permit them to be advanced with thevehicle to a position on either side of the roll. As is illustrated inFIG. 4, however, the vehicle operator might misalign the clamping armsso that upon driving straight forward, the pad on the forward extremityof arm 18 would be driven into roll 24 while arm 20 would hit roll 26.With the clamping arms disclosed no damage would occur to the rolls,since the forward extremity of arm 18 may swing outwardly and away fromthe other arm when it comes against roll 24, permitting it to slidearound one side of the roll, and the forward extremity of arm 20 mayswing inwardly toward roll 24, and toward arm 18, on coming against roll26.

When the arms are properly positioned on either side of roll 24, theyare moved under power toward each other, with pads 34 moved against thesides of the roll. The forward arm section of each arm structure swingsabout its pivot axis to its outer limit position, and thence is clampedagainst a side of the roll. The roll thus is embraced by the pads on thearm structures and it may be maneuvered as described by the operator.

Should it be desired to use an arm in the roll clamp backhandedly, theoperator would maneuver the vehicle to place the outer side of theforward arm section of one of the arms adjacent such roll and then movesuch arm under power away from the other arm until it com tacts theroll. The forward arm section swings about its pivot axis to its innerlimit position and then urges the roll to move in the direction the armis being moved.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, it isappreciated that variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. ln a roll clamp including a frame and a pair of opposed armstructures mounted on said frame actuatable to clamp onto a roll, saidarm structures mounting at the forward extremities thereof curvedclamping pads for clamping against substantially diametrically oppositesides of a roll, the improvement comprising a construction for at leastone arm structure in the form of an arm base which is mounted on theframe for powered adjustable movement toward and away from the opposingarm structure to place the arm structure at different positions within arange of relatively adjusted positions with respect to the opposing armstructure for the purpose of clamping onto a roll, said arm base havinga fixed position on the frame in a given adjusted position for said onearm structure within said range, a forward arm section projectingforwardly of the arm base mounting the curved clamping pad,

means pivotally mounting the forward arm section on the arm base forswinging movement about a pivot axis located toward said frame from saidpad and the load center of a roll clamped between the pads of the twoarm structures, said pivot axis accommodating free swinging of theforward extremity of the forward arm section in the same generaldirections as the directions in which the arm base is movable,

first limit means interposed between the forward arm section and armbase limiting swinging movement of the forward arm section relative tosaid arm base in a direction away from the opposing arm structure beyonda defined first limit position for the forward arm section, and secondlimit means interposed between the forward arm section and arm baselimiting swinging movement of the forward arm section relative to thearm base in a direction towards said opposing arm structure beyond adefined second limit position,

The forward arm section having an at-rest position on the arm base whichthe arm section occupies absent holding onto a roll and with said onearm structure positioned in different positions within said range ofadjusted positions, said at-rest position for the forward arm sectionbeing intermediate said first and second limit positions, the armsection in said at-rest position projecting forwardly from said frame tobe in a position to engage a load, and

biasing means yieldably holding said forward arm sect'oni i sa'd a testqsitipmsi forw r arm section ur i ng inrtra poiitromng of are roll iampadjacent a roll thus being afforded limited play in swinging from itssaid at-rest position toward one of its limit positions.

2. The roll clamp of claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises anelongated torsion bar extending substantially along the pivot axis forsaid forward arm section, one end of the torsion bar being rigidlysecured to said arm base and the other end being rigidly secured to saidforward arm section.

3. The roll clamp of claim 1, wherein said forward arm section includesan expanse which projects from the pivot axis for the forward armsection rearwardly toward said frame and which lies adjacent rearportions of the arm base, and wherein said first and second limit meanscomprise means interposed between a rear portion of said expanse and arear portion of said arm base.

4. The roll clamp of claim 3, wherein said expanse of said forward armsection lies outwardly of said arm base, and said first limit meanscomprises a bearing pad on said arm base contactable with an innerportion of said expanse to define the limit position.

l l k

1. In a roll clamp including a frame and a pair of opposed armstructures mounted on said frame actuatable to clamp onto a roll, saidarm structures mounting at the forward extremities thereof curvedclamping pads for clamping against substantially diametrically oppositesides of a roll, the improvement comprising a construction for at leastone arm structure in the form of an arm base which is mounted on theframe for powered adjustable movement toward And away from the opposingarm structure to place the arm structure at different positions within arange of relatively adjusted positions with respect to the opposing armstructure for the purpose of clamping onto a roll, said arm base havinga fixed position on the frame in a given adjusted position for said onearm structure within said range, a forward arm section projectingforwardly of the arm base mounting the curved clamping pad, meanspivotally mounting the forward arm section on the arm base for swingingmovement about a pivot axis located toward said frame from said pad andthe load center of a roll clamped between the pads of the two armstructures, said pivot axis accommodating free swinging of the forwardextremity of the forward arm section in the same general directions asthe directions in which the arm base is movable, first limit meansinterposed between the forward arm section and arm base limitingswinging movement of the forward arm section relative to said arm basein a direction away from the opposing arm structure beyond a definedfirst limit position for the forward arm section, and second limit meansinterposed between the forward arm section and arm base limitingswinging movement of the forward arm section relative to the arm base ina direction towards said opposing arm structure beyond a defined secondlimit position, The forward arm section having an at-rest position onthe arm base which the arm section occupies absent holding onto a rolland with said one arm structure positioned in different positions withinsaid range of adjusted positions, said at-rest position for the forwardarm section being intermediate said first and second limit positions,the arm section in said atrest position projecting forwardly from saidframe to be in a position to engage a load, and biasing means yieldablyholding said forward arm section in its said at-rest position, saidforward arm section during initial positioning of the roll clampadjacent a roll thus being afforded limited play in swinging from itssaid at-rest position toward one of its limit positions.
 2. The rollclamp of claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises an elongatedtorsion bar extending substantially along the pivot axis for saidforward arm section, one end of the torsion bar being rigidly secured tosaid arm base and the other end being rigidly secured to said forwardarm section.
 3. The roll clamp of claim 1, wherein said forward armsection includes an expanse which projects from the pivot axis for theforward arm section rearwardly toward said frame and which lies adjacentrear portions of the arm base, and wherein said first and second limitmeans comprise means interposed between a rear portion of said expanseand a rear portion of said arm base.
 4. The roll clamp of claim 3,wherein said expanse of said forward arm section lies outwardly of saidarm base, and said first limit means comprises a bearing pad on said armbase contactable with an inner portion of said expanse to define thelimit position.